New choking and stealthing laws in Tasmania, and what women are talking about tonight.

This post deals with violence against women and might be triggering for some readers.

Choking someone is now its own criminal offence and removing a condom during sex without consent is illegal under new Tasmanian laws.

The changes passed both houses of state parliament on Thursday in a move announced in June 2021. The laws on non-fatal strangulation, choking and suffocation bring Tasmania into line with the rest of the country.

"It is a significant form of violence, which can be a precursor for escalation in the severity of family violence," Attorney-General Elise Archer said in a statement. 

Changes have also been made to the definition of consent to add what is commonly termed "stealthing" - the removal of a condom during sex without consent.

"That will help educate the public, discourage would-be offenders, and encourage complaints and prosecutions for sexual offences such as rape," Archer said.

Previously, non-fatal strangulation was considered an element or aggravating factor in sentencing when people are charged with other crimes. 

A 2019 coroner’s investigation into the 2014 murder of a young mother recommended the state government consider making choking, suffocation or non-fatal strangulation a specific offence.

Jodi Michelle Eaton, 28, was killed in Hobart’s northern suburbs by Darren Michael Dobson, who is serving life in jail. 

She was strangled at the Bridgewater home of a mutual friend and then buried in a shallow grave at a nearby rural property. 

Coroner Olivia McTaggart found Dobson had a lengthy history of violence against women and had a propensity to choke them or hold their throat.

If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.

You can also call safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Line on 1800 015 188 or visit www.safesteps.org.au for further information.

The Men’s Referral Service is also available on 1300 766 491 or via online chat at www.ntv.org.au.

Queensland will move to ban Nazi and other hate symbols to ensure extremists are "called out, confronted and condemned" amid rising antisemitism in the state.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will make Queensland the second state to criminalise the display of symbols to promote hatred or cause fear, such as the swastika, which is also known as the Hakenkreuz.

"Nazism is evil,' the premier said. "Evil triumphs when good people do nothing. These crimes are not harmless and nor is the ideology behind it."

Palaszczuk said her decision came after a Nazi flag was displayed near the Brisbane Synagogue, and a train carriage was vandalised with Nazi slogans and symbols last year.

"That will make it a criminal offence to display symbols promoting hatred and causing fear," she said in a statement to AAP. "These crimes are not harmless. They are to be called out, confronted and condemned."

Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies' Jason Steinberg said there had been a notable rise in antisemitism.

"Since COVID, there has been an exponential increase in antisemitism across Queensland - 60 per cent of our community have experienced vilification."

However, he said 90 per cent of victims were afraid to come forward, fearing it would not be taken seriously by police.

"This announcement about symbols is really important because it will give the police the opportunity to take things further, and that is what we are very happy about," Steinberg said.

Queensland’s plan for a ban on hate symbols follows the Victorian government introducing a bill to ban them. The NSW government is also set to follow suit. Last year, a Queensland parliamentary committee recommended prohibiting hate symbols, including those representing the Nazi and ISIS ideologies, after an inquiry into serious vilification and hate crimes. 

It is unclear if the premier’s bill will cover social media and internet displays of hate symbols, which was also recommended by the committee.

- With AAP.

Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic has debuted at Cannes Film Festival, receiving an incredible 12-minute standing ovation from the crowd. We’re looking forward to the movie, of course, but also to what we're dubbing 'Austin Butler season'.

And Charlene, Princess of Monaco, has given an interview shedding light on her health, after more than a year of speculation. There have long been conspiracies around Charlene, the so-called 'sad princess', so while the interview isn't especially groundbreaking, it does feel like a big step.

Plus, Kate Moss has testified in the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial, with the supermodel’s short testimony being heralded as a huge win for Team Depp. There’s a long history as to why Moss' statement carries so much weight, but it’s important to keep in mind that this is still far from case closed.

Listen to The Spill below:

National Sorry Day, or the National Day of Healing, is an annual event that has been held annually in Australia on May 26, since 1998.

It remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as The Stolen Generations.

 Since the establishment of Sorry Day, the day also recognises another important milestone in Australia’s history on this date. On May 26, 2017, the Uluru Statement of the Heart was delivered by council member Megan Davis. 

On Saturday, the newly-elected Labor government finally agreed - five years later - to enact the statement in full. We're still waiting for a timeline on that. 

For Natasha Lucas, Sorry Day is a day for her to reflect on her own family.

READ: 'When I think of National Sorry Day, I imagine having my two daughters ripped away from me.'

Morning,

The world has been left devastated over the deaths of 19 children and two teachers in an elementary school shooting in Texas.  

Here's what you need to know about the attack - the 27th school shooting in America this year. 

These are the top news stories for Thursday May 26. 

1. Kids barricaded in class with Texas killer, as more victims identified. 

The 18-year-old gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas school barricaded himself inside a single classroom and "began shooting anyone that was in his way", authorities say.

Law enforcement officers eventually broke into the classroom and killed the gunman, who used an AR-style rifle.

Police and others responding to Tuesday's attack also went around breaking windows at the school to enable students and teachers to escape, said Lieutenant Christopher Olivarez, of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Lt Olivarez told CNN that all of the victims were in the same classroom at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.

The killer "barricaded himself by locking the door and just started shooting children and teachers that were inside that classroom", he said on Wednesday. "It just shows you the complete evil of the shooter."

More victims have also been identified, including 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza, eight-year-old Uziyah Garcia, 10-year-old Jose Flores Jr. and 46-year-old teacher Irma Garcia. 

These are 17 of the 19 children identified by loved ones from Tuesday's tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Officials now say all of the victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School. INFO: https://t.co/I3DnXNz4MB pic.twitter.com/O91fkOVCGO

— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) May 25, 2022

10-year-old Xavier Lopez and fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles were earlier confirmed as victims. 

The 18-year-old suspect allegedly shot his grandmother before entering the school and opening fire. https://t.co/jn58rd26Ma

— Mamamia (@Mamamia) May 25, 2022

2. Five seats key to final election result.

Labor is leading in three of the five remaining close seat races as vote counting continues following Saturday's federal election.

Yesterday afternoon, the Australian Electoral Commission listed Labor as holding 75 seats to the Coalition's 61, with two Greens, 12 other crossbenchers and one seat, Macnamara, where there is no two-candidate preferred result available.

The ABC is projecting Macnamara to be retained by sitting Labor MP Josh Burns, with a 4.5 per cent margin.

For wages.
For the Uluru Statement.
For real action on climate.
For the Biloela family.
For aged care.
For Medicare.
For manufacturing.
For jobs.

I just voted Labor, for our future.

Let's do this, Australia. Let's change the government today.#auspol #ausvotes #Macnamara pic.twitter.com/C7tyCHIDJT

— Josh Burns (@joshburnsmp) May 20, 2022

In the closest race, Liberal candidate Andrew Constance is 114 votes ahead of sitting Labor MP Fiona Phillips in the NSW seat of Gilmore. Other seats being watched include Brisbane, Deakin and Lyons.

In the Senate, the Coalition is on track to hold 31 seats, and Labor 26, in the 76-seat chamber from July. 

3. Refugees celebrate promise of a new home.

Refugees on temporary visas have celebrated the election result, in anticipation they will soon be able to call Australia their permanent home. 

While the major parties promoted similar border policies during the campaign, Labor pledged to grant permanent visas to more than 19,000 refugees already in Australia who must otherwise keep reapplying to stay. Temporary visas allow them to work, but prohibit them from bringing family members to Australia. 

Afghan refugee Nimat Nazari, a member of the persecuted Hazara community, said he could now sleep soundly.

"I am very happy now; I hope my tension and uncertainty will be over soon," said Nazari, who has been on temporary arrangements for more than a decade. 

"There are many people (like me) who have uncertain lives. A hope exists now that we will have a future here."

While the Coalition had pledged not to send Afghans living in Australia back while the security situation remained dire, their long-term place in Australia was not assured.

4. More Aussies able to receive fourth COVID jab ahead of winter.

Pathologists are sounding the alarm over the low uptake of COVID-19 vaccine boosters as the national immunisation group suggests a fourth dose for some Australians.

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia says third doses are particularly low in Queensland and NSW even as cases rise.

"With winter commencing, it is important for everyone that they are fully up to date with all relevant vaccinations," RCPA fellow Professor William Rawlinson said.

"It is very likely that we will experience far more influenza cases in Australia this winter. This, combined with the current, rising trend of COVID-19 cases, is likely to put an extraordinary strain on the healthcare system."

ATAGI have just expanded the criteria for fourth COVID-19 doses in Australia. More eligible patients means more vaccines in arms and less in the bins! #winteriscoming #VaccinesWork 💪🏿💪🏾💪🏽💪🏼https://t.co/i7z1qzL6GB

— Dr Brad McKay (@DrBradMcKay) May 25, 2022

Western Australia has the highest uptake of third doses about 80 per cent, while Queensland is the lowest at 58 per cent. Nationally, about two-thirds of eligible Australians have received a booster.

Yesterday, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation announced the expansion for the eligibility of the winter booster dose, with people with health conditions or a disability now able to receive a fourth jab from May 30.

A fourth dose has not yet been recommended for the rest of the population.

5. Kate Moss testifies in support of ex Johnny Depp.

British model Kate Moss has briefly taken the witness stand in the defamation battle between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard as his attorneys try to convince a jury that Heard was the abuser in their relationship.

Depp's attorneys on Wednesday called Moss as a rebuttal witness after Heard had testified about a time she feared Depp would push her sister down a staircase. Heard said she recalled "rumours" of Depp pushing Moss down a flight of stairs and she slapped Depp to stop him from harming her sister.

Moss, who dated Depp from 1994 to 1998, testified that she slipped on a staircase and injured her back during a vacation the couple took in Jamaica. Depp rushed to help her, carried her to her room and summoned medical services, she said.

"He never pushed me, kicked me or threw me down any stairs," said Moss, who appeared via video from England.

Amber Heard Trial: Kate Moss Finally Testifies Depp Never Pushed Her Down Steps https://t.co/BfewPG73pZ pic.twitter.com/rnH68eDvdl

— Forbes (@Forbes) May 25, 2022

The Pirates of the Caribbean star is suing Heard in Virginia for $US50 million ($A70 million), saying she defamed him when she said she was a victim of domestic abuse. Heard has countersued for $US100 million ($A141 million), arguing that Depp smeared her when his lawyer said her claims were a "hoax."

Closing arguments in the case, which is being heard in Virginia, are scheduled for Friday.

We'll bring you more of the top stories throughout the day.

- With AAP. 

It's fair to say there's been a lot of panic about the new spread of monkeypox in Europe, North America and now Australia.

This episode, The Quicky speaks to an expert in infectious diseases to break down what exactly this disease is, and why we need to be informed, but not alarmed.

READ: 

• What women were talking about on Wednesday
• What women were talking about on Tuesday
• What women were talking about on Monday

Feature Image: Getty.